Me Time or Family Time?

How To Make the Most of Your Time

In the hubbub of modern life, there’s an unfortunate reality we all must face: We only get so many hours. Even though most of us would love to be spending more time on self-care, with our families, enjoying hobbies, etc., it can feel impossible to squeeze work time, family time, and me-time all into the same day.

I’ll admit that this is something I’ve struggled with over the years. The business owner in me feels like there’s always more work to be done. My mom instincts kick in and tell me I really should be spending more time with my kid. I get tired and crave a long walk alone, a day at the spa, or even a solo vacation. Ticking off all these boxes isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s not impossible either.

Multitasking is Key

When it comes to making sure my time is distributed as well as possible, the key is multitasking. Now sure, not everything goes together—you may struggle if you decide to take an important call while you’re in the middle of a cardio blast—but some things certainly can. For example, I’ve been known to take work calls while I stretch or enjoy a face mask, and instead of meeting clients and friends for drinks, I’ll often invite them to join me for a walk. These are just a few easy ways to ensure I’m getting my physical activity in while meeting my professional obligations and social engagements.

The same can work if you’re a parent. It’s fairly easy to combine your workout time with family time, especially if your kids are accustomed to getting daily movement in. If your older children are interested in starting to workout, you could potentially bring them along to the gym. Otherwise, a family game of kickball, an afternoon at the community pool, or a long walk around your town’s historic district are all great ways to score some steps and make some memories with your family at the same time. In our family, it’s important to us that our son has a solid nutritional foundation and a love for movement, so we try to keep our family activities as active as possible, as often as we can.

At the same time, though, my workout time often doubles as my me-time. If packing your kids along to the gym doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, that’s absolutely fine too. There’s no shame in skipping the mommy-and-me yoga, leaving your kids at home with your partner or a sitter, and enjoying a quiet, thorough workout sans family. Personally, I’ve learned that I’m a much better mom (and more pleasant person in general) when I make time for a workout/me-time in the mornings, and my family has come to respect that that’s a time I take for myself.

The Best Thing You Can Do For You

Whatever you decide to do with your time, my biggest piece of advice is: Ditch the guilt. Just like we’ve ditched the dieting, it’s okay for you to do whatever you need to do for yourself. Some days, that might mean making arrangements for your family to be busy elsewhere while you enjoy a day of self-care. Other days, that might mean cutting a workout short so you can make it to your kid’s recital on time. There’s no right or wrong way to prioritize your hours, and as long as all your needs are being met, you’re doing just fine.

If you’re looking for some extra healthy living tips, be sure to check out my FREE Facebook Community, Never Diet Again. You can grab my Eat, Drink, & Be Healthy Guide today, AND you’ll be first in line when I release my new guide, 7 Nutrition Lies We’ve All Been Fed, shortly.

Until next week, I hope you live a life you love without feeling hungry, depriving yourself, or giving up your glass of wine with dinner. Cheers!